Sewing machine



Feb. 19, 1929. k

' A. R. MORRILL SEWING MACHINE Filed NOV. 17. 1922 n i'bcess A. R. MORRILL SEWING MACHINE Feb; 19, 1929.

Filed Nov. 17, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MW/Z/M ZZ Feb. 19, 1929.

-A. R. MORRILL SEWING MACHINE Filed Nov; 17, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5w. 7% Mm 742 Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,662

A. R. MORRll J-a SEWING mourns I Filed Nov. 1'7, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Woe-5'6 hm Feb. 19, 1929. 7 1,702,662

A. R. MORRILL SEWING MACHINE Filed NOV. 17, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. or

ALFRED R. MORRILL, OF SWAMPSCOTT, IMIASSACHUSETTS, ASSIONOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PAIERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEWING MACHINE.

Application filed. November 17, 1922. Serial No. 601,547.

The invention relates to inseam sewing machines such as are used for sewing the inseams of boots and shoes.

For the most efficient operation machines of this character are usually provided with driving and stopping mechanism which permits the speed of operation during the sewing to be varied by the operator, and which for high speed operation in doing most classes of work. In sewlng pointed shoes,

however, it is difiicult, and oftentimes impracticable, for the operator even when highly skilled to properlylocate the stitches and sew a tight seam across the toe. It-is the object of the present invention to enable this to be done without the sacrifice of speed and eiiiciency in sewing the other parts of the shoe or in sewing other styles of shoes. To this end the invention contemplates the provision of means whereby the stitch forming mechanism may be automatically stopped and the needle automatically freed from the thread to permit the shoe to be removed at the end of the sewing or may be automatically stopped without freeing the needle from the thread and then operated stitch by stitch, after which continuous operation may be resumed and continued until the automatic stopping and automatic freeing of the needle is effected at the end of the sewing. This enables the machine to be operated continuously and at the most efficient speed during the sewing along the sides of the shoe, to be stopped without freeing the needle from the thread when the toe is reached, to be started and stopped between successive stitch forming cycles, to sew the seam stitch by stitch about the toe, and to be again operated continuously until the sewing is completed, when it is stopped and the needle freed from the thread by automatic mechanism thrown into operation by the operator. The preferred mechanism for thus operating and controL ling the operation of the stitch forming mechanism comprises a driving and stopping mechanism provided with controlling means through which it is thrown into and outof operation by the operator to drive the stitch forming mechanism continuously at a speed variable at the will of the operator and to bring the stitch forming mechanism uni-4v formly to rest whatever the speed when the stopping devices are thrown into operation and also providedwith supplemental or auxiliary controlling means by which the operator may cause the stitchforming mechanism to be'actuated through a single stitch forming cycle each time the driving and stopping mechanism 1s thrown into operation. I

The mechanism for freeing the needle fromthe thread may be ofany suitableconstruction and may be controlled in anysuitable manner to permitthe stopping of the stitch forming mechanism without freeing the needle after the seam has been but partially completed and the point has beenreached where a stitch by stitch operation is desirable. In its preferred form this mechanism is so constructed and controlledthat it is thrown into operation by the operator after-the stitch forming mechanism has been broughtto rest by the stopping devices. I

In sewing stitch by stitch about the toe it is desirable that the operator be free to distribute and locate the stitches as he may see lit and to enable this to be done mechanism is provided which acts automatically upon stopping the continuous operation of the stitch forming mechanism to render the feed inactive. This, in itself, is a feature of the invention. lVhen rendered inactive the feed mechanism so remains until the continuous operation of the stitch forming mechanism is resumed and the operator therefore is free to move the shoe between stitch forming cycles during the stitch by stitch sewing to secure any desired location of the stitches about the toe. In again starting the contin-r uous operation of thestitch forming mechanism the feed is again rendered active and its normal operation continued until the sewing of the seam is completed.-

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an inseam sewing machine embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation looking toward the right,

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation looking toward the left, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation on a plane extending axially through the cam shaft of the machine and showing a portion of the driving mechanism, Fig. 4 is a plan view partly broken away showing the driving mechanism, Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation taken substantially on line 5, Fig. 4, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are details illustrating the manner of freeing the needle from the thread, and Fig. 9 is a plan view of the treadles.

In the drawings the invention is shown embodied in an inseam sewing machine hav ing the same general construe on and mode of operation as the machine illustrated and described in Patent No. 1,191,?47, dated July 18, 1916. This machine is provided with a curved hook needle 2, a looper 4, a thread finger 6, a back gage or welt guide 8, a. back rest 10, and a feed slide 12 carrying an awl 14 and a channel guide 16, all of which parts are operated from the cam shaft 18 as in said patent.

The mechanism for driving the cam shaft at a speed variable at the will of the operator and for automatically stopping it with the parts in position for the removal of the shoe is the same in construction as the driving and stopping mechanism of said patent. This mechanism comprises a pulley 20 on the base of the machine driven through a friction clutch 22 from the driving shaft 24 and connected by a belt 26 with a pulley 28 secured to the cam shaft. The friction clutch is con trolled by a wedge block 30 connected with a treadle 32, through which the operator may throw the clutch in and out and may control the speed of operation during the sewing. The stopping mechanism includes a friction clutch 34 connected to rotate with, but movable lengthwise of, the cam shaft, and nor mally held out of engagement with a clutch member 36 which is loosely mounted on the cam shaft and continuously driven at a slow speed from a shaft 38 belted to the drive shaft. The hub of the clutch is provided with a cam groove 40 engaging a roll 42 on a bell crank lever 44 and acting during the sewing to oscillate the lever idly. When the machine is to be stopped a spring pressed locking bolt 46 which has been held by the operator inactive position is released and engages a hole in the end of lever 44 and thus connects the lever with the spring pressed slide 48 in which the bolt; is mounted so that oscillation of the lever is prevented and the roll 42 held stationary. The cam groove 40 now acts to force the clutch 34 into engagement with the driving clutch member 36 against the pressure of the slide 48 so that the clutch acts to slow down and then to drive the cam shaft at a slow speed until the clutch is again disengaged by. the cam groove when the sh aft stops Thelocking bolt 46 is connected by an arm 50 and rod 52 with a treadle 54 which is arranged. at the side of treadle 32 and overlies a laterally projecting lug 56 on the latter treadle. With this arrangement the depres sion of the treadle 54 to withdraw the looking bolt will be accompanied by a depression of the treadle 32 to engage the friction clutch 22 through which the cam shaft is driven during t re sewing. The treadle 32, however, may be depressed to engage the clutch 22 without depressing the treadle 54 and withdrawing the locking bolt when it is desired to operate the machine stitch by stitch in the manner hereinafter referred to.

In the construction shown the needle is automatica... "ed from the thread at the completion of the sewing by imparting to the needle a sufficient advancing and then retracting movement to free from the needle hook the loop of thread which is drawn through the work by the needle during its final retracting movement. The mechanism for thus dipping the needle is like that shown and described in application No. 441,131,1iled January 31, 1921, and is controlled by the operator so that it is rendered active after the machine has been brought to rest by the stopping mechanism. The operator may, therefore, cause the machine to be automati cally stopped and the needle to be automatically freed from the thread at the completion of the sewing or he may cause the H13". chine to be automaticallystopped and then operateds'titch by stitch at an intermediate point in the seam without freeing the needle from the thread. The mechanism for dipping the needle comprises a rocl; shaft 58 provided with an eccentric 60 on which the needle operating lever 62 is pivoted. The shaft is oscillated after the needle has been brought to rest in its retracted position so that the eccentric actuates the lever 62 to advance the needle from the position indicated in Fig. 6 su'liiciently to free the hook of the needle from the loop of thread and to then return the needle to retracted position free of the thread as indicated in Figs. '2' and 8. The shaft is oscillated through a segment 64 secured thereto and engaging a segment 66 secured to one end of a rock shaft 68. The other end of the shaft is provided with an arm 70 connected to aneccentric strap 7 2 which surrounds an eccentric 74 formed on a sleeve 76 loosely mounted on the hub of the slow speed clutch member 36, The sleeve is actuated through a one-revolution roll clutch, the driving member 78 of which is. secured to the clutch member 36 and the driven member80 of which is formed on the end of the sleeve 76. T e roll controlling ring 82 of the clutch is normally held in clutch disengaging position against the force of the spring 84 by a latch arm 86 arranged to en gage a spring pressed stop dog 88 on the ring. The latch arm is secured to a rock shaft 90 and is normally held in engagement with the periphery ofthe ring 82 by a spring 92. The latch arm is disengaged from the stop dog to permit the clutch to make a single revolution and dip the needle by a lever 94, the rear end of which carries a pin 96 underlying the end of the latch arm and the forward end of which is arranged within convenient reach of the operator.

To prevent the accidental tripping of the latch arm 86 during the sewing the shaft 90 is provided with an arm 98 arranged to be engaged during the sewing by stop nuts 100 on a rod 102. The lower end of the rod 102 is pivotally connected to an arm 103 which is automatically rocked upon the stopping of the machine at the completion of the sewing through mechanism which is fully described in the patent above referred to. The rocking of the arm raises the rod 102 to disengage the nuts 100 from the arm 98, so that the latch arm may be disengaged from the stop dog of the clutch by tripping the lever 94.

When the machine is automatically stopped at the completion of the sewing the feed mechanism is automatically rendered inactive and remains inactive until the driv ing and stopping mechanism is put into con dition for continuous operation of the machine by the depression of both treadles 54 and 32. The means shown for securing this result comprises a rock shaft 104 provided with an arm 106, the lower end of which is connected by a link 108 with the block 110 which is mounted to slide in the feed lever 112 and carries the pivot block 114 engaging a slot in the feed slide and connecting the slide with the lever. The rock shaft is also provided with an arm 116, the end of which is forked to embrace a pin 118 carried by the locking bolt 46. When the locking boltis drawn downward to disengage it from the clutch shifting lever 44 the pin 118 operates the rock shaft 104 to move the block 110 into the position indicated in F ig. 3 so that the feed slide will be moved by the oscillation of the feed lever. When the locking bolt is released to automatically stop the machine and enters the hole in the clutch shifting lever 44 the shaft 104 is rocked to shift the block 110 so that the axis of the pivot block 114 is in line with the pivot of the feed lever. With the block in this position the oscillation of the feed lever will have no effect upon the feed slide and consequently the shifting of block 110 into this position renders the feed mechanism inactive. The feed mechanism will remain inactive until the locking bolt is again withdrawn by the depression of the treadle 54 in starting the machine to sew continuously. It will not be rendered active, however, in operating the machine to sew stitch by stitch since in thus operating the machine the treadle 32 is depressed and released without depressing the treadle 54 and without withdrawing the locking bolt.

Assuming that a narrow toed shoe is to be sewed which renders it desirable to sew stitch by stitch about the toe the operator in starting the seam will depress both treadles, thus withdrawing the locking bolt to render the slow speed and stopping clutch inactive and to render the feed mechanism active. The stitch forming mechanism will now be continuously operated until the toe is reached, when the treadles will be released to automatically stop the stitch forming mechanism with the needle retracted and still holding the thread and to automatically render the feed mechanism inactive. The operator may now depress and release the auxiliary treadle 32 to temporarily engage the clutch 22 so that the cam shaft will be turned through the pulley 28 sufficiently to cause the low speed clutch 34 to be engaged with the clutch member 36. The slow speed clutch will then turn the cam shaft until it is again disengaged at the end of a single revolution bythe cam groove 40 acting on the roll 42 which is held stationary owing to the fact that the lock ing bolt has not been withdrawn from the clutch lever 44 in depressing the treadle 32. The mechanism may be thus controlled through the treadle 32 to operate the stitch forming mechanism stitch by stitch and after each stitch forming cycle the operator may shift the shoe to properly locate the succeeding stitchand then again depress and release the treadle 32 to cause the stitch forming mechanism to be actuated through another stitch forming cycle. After the desired number of stitches have been sewed stitch by stitch about the toe continuous sewing may be resumed by depressing both treadles 54 and 32 and the seam completed. At the completion of the scam the treadles will be released and tht lever 94 tripped to cause the machine to be automatically stopped and the needle to be automatically freed. from the thread to permit the ready removal of the completed. shoe.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown and described in applying the invention to the machine having the general construction and mode of operation of the machine of the patent referred to it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential and may be varied or modified as found deirable or best suited to the construction and mode of operation of the machine and mechanisms to which it is to be applied.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a hook needle, power driving and. stopping mechanism therefor provided with controlling means for causing said mechanism to operate the stitch forming mechanism continuously at aspeed variable by the operator and to stop it with the parts in position for the removal of the work, and auxiliary controlling means for causing said mechanism to operate the stitch forming mechanism stitch by stitch.

2. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch torniiing mechanism including a hook needle, operating mechanism therefor, operator controlled means for causing the stitch forming mechanism to be automatically stopped, power operated means for arising the needle to be automatically freed from the thread, and auxiliary operator controlled means tor operating the stitch forming meclr anism stitch by stitch without freeing the needle from the thread.

3. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch torming and work feeding mechanism, mechanism acting automatically when thrown into ope alien to stop the stitch forming mechanism and to render the teed mechanism inactive, and mechanisms for causing a stitch by stitch operation of the stitch forming mechanism While the feed mechanism remains inactive.

i. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, a driving and stopping mechanism therefor, including a. stopping clutch clutch operating means rendered active in stopping the machine to engage and thereafter disengage the clutch, and means for throwing the driving mechanism into operation without rendering the clutch operating means inactive.

5. A sewing machine having, in comhination, stitch forming mechanism, mechanism under the control of the operator for actuating the same continuously, driving means rendered active in stopping the stitch forming mechanism to slow it down and continue its movement to stopping position, controlling 1,70a,ee.2

means for rendering said driving means inactive in starting the actuating mechanism, and supplemental controlling means for start-- ing the actuating mechanism without rendering said driving means inactive.

6. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, driving and stopping mechanism therefor, including means inactive during the continuous operation of the stitch forming mechanism and rendered active in stopping the same to slow it down and continue its movement to stopping position, and means for starting the stitch forming mechanism while said means remains active to stop it after a single stitch forming cycle.

7. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, driving and stopping mechanism therefor, including means inactive during the continuous operation of the stitch forming mechanism and rendered active at the conclusion of the formation of a seam to stop the stitch forming mechanism in predetermined position and means for starting the stitch tori'ning mecha nism While said means remains active to stop it after a single stitch forming cycle.

8. A. sewing machine having, in c0mbina tion, stitch forming mechanism, mechanisi'n for 01 crating the stitch forming mechanism continuously at a speed variable at the will of the operator, stopping mechanism normally inactive during the continuous operation of the stitch iorming mechanism in sewing a seam and means under the control of the operator for starting the stitch 'lforn'iing mechanism while the stopping mechanism remains active to stop the stitch forming mechanism after a single stitch forming cycle.

ALFRED R. MORRILL. 

